The Program in the Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World (CLAW) at the College of Charleston was established in 1994 to promote scholarship and public engagement with the history and culture of the Lowcountry, the Atlantic World, and the connections between the two. CLAW’s mission is to place Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry region in a broader international context by fostering research and educational outreach that illuminates the ongoing connections and cultural exchange among various Atlantic cultures, societies, and ethnicities in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

Since its founding, CLAW has organized and hosted numerous academic conferences, and its publication series with the University of South Carolina Press has issued multiple volumes. In addition, each semester faculty and community partners affiliated with CLAW arrange a range of events that include public lectures, faculty seminars, and co-sponsored symposia with local cultural heritage organizations. CLAW has also been involved in promoting of physical and digital exhibitions and that promote robust education outreach.

The Program aims to carry out its mission by assisting and providing a variety of activities and resources.